Best and Worst Times to Drive Labor Day Weekend

Before you hit the road for the Labor Day weekend, you should know which times will be busiest on Western Washington’s major highways.

The Washington State Department of Transportation released charts showing the projected worst times to drive.

On Interstate 90 between North Bend and Cle Elum, eastbound traffic is expected to be exceptionally bad Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., as well as Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Backups are expected westbound Monday with congestion far above normal between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.

However, drivers planning to cross the Columbia River at Vantage also need to be prepared for long delays due to a bridge painting project which WSDOT says cannot be suspended.

Interstate 5 traffic volumes between Olympia and Tacoma are expected to be about what they typically are on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and increased traffic volumes on Monday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. both northbound and southbound.

Traffic is also expected to be increased on US 2 between Stevens Pass and Leavenworth, as well as I-5 between Bellingham and the Canadian Border.

Most construction projects will be suspended for the holiday weekend, but some will still be happening according to King 5 News:

Northbound Interstate 405 – nighttime lane and ramp closures Friday through Monday near Bellevue between Northeast 8th and Northeast 70th streets and in the Totem Lake area from 124th Street and State Route 522. The work is part of the I-405 widening and express toll lanes project and is scheduled for evenings to minimize any traffic delays.

Tacoma – The A Street on-ramp to Interstate 705 is closed around the clock for HOV construction. The northbound State Route 7 on-ramp to southbound I-5 is also closed around the clock for HOV construction.

Near Eatonville — SR 7 at milepost 30 has traffic reduced to one alternating lane around the clock for slide repair.

Grays Harbor County — US 101 north of Artic at Rock Crusher Hill, milepost 72 has traffic reduced to one alternating lane around the clock for slide repair. The Simpson Avenue Bridge in Hoquiam is closed until mid-October for bridge painting — detour via Riverside Bridge.

Mason County — US 101 north of Hamma, milepost 316 has traffic reduced to one alternating lane around the clock for slide repair.

With an increased amount of traffic throughout Western Washington, there is also an increased risk of car accidents due to unsafe driving conditions.

If you were injured or a family member suffered wrongful death or were injured in an accident, please consult the DARYL GRAVES LAW, PLLC. We are available 24/7 on our on-call attorney line at (253) 217-4849.

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